Sun, Nov 19 vs Hofstra* W 89-78 *Played in Charleston Classic at neutral site
HOFSTRA now: 18-11 (11-6) 3rd in the CAA, 3 games back of 1st.
Fri, Nov 24 vs Winthrop W 119-85
WINTHROP now: 18-10 (12-5) 2nd place in the Big South, 1 game back of UNC Asheville for 1st (lost to UNCA 89-75 this past Thurs the 22nd.)
Sat, Dec 16 vs Middle Tennessee* (neutral site in B'ham) W 76-70
MT now: 22-5 (14-1) 1st place in C-USA by 1 game (Old Dominion and Western Kentucky tied for 2nd place at 1 game back.) MT has beaten OD the only time they play them this year, and have beaten WKU once with 1 more game against them on 3-1-18.
Tue, Dec 19 @Murray State W 81-77
MURRAY STATE now: 23-5 (15-2) 1st place in the OVC by 1 game over 2nd place Belmont (Murray lost the only matchup with Belmont this season...both teams have 1 regular season game left.)
Those listed above are the best OOC wins, the rest of the teams are performing at a so-so or poor rate:
Nov. 10 Norfolk State 11-17 (9-4, 5th in MEAC)
Nov. 16 Indiana State 12-17 (7-10, 6th in MVC)
Nov. 17 Temple 15-12 (7-8, 7th in the American) LOSS
Nov. 29 Dayton 13-15 (7-9, 9th in A-10)
Dec. 03 George Mason 13-15 (7-8, 6th in A-10)
Dec. 06 Gardner-Webb 13-17 (8-9, 6th in Big South)
Dec. 09 UAB 17-11 (8-7, 6th in C-USA)
Dec. 23 13-15 (6-9, 8th in American)
Dec. 30 10-14 (4-7, 5th in Ivy League)
Quick Comment:
Earlier this year it seemed to me that Bruce was/is running Auburn like a mid-major. The schedule plus the personnel (smaller, etc.) lead me to think this. However, I just saw an interview from about a week ago where Bruce bemoans the inability to get "household names" to come to Auburn. I had not adequately considered this aspect of his scheduling. However, perhaps (especially with the new emphasis on away and neutral site games) he can have some success getting teams to agree to a one-off game in B'ham or other neutral site.
As for the personnel component, I'm guessing that Bruce is trying to take the best available player, while also considering needs; in other words I'm assuming that he isn't going to sign "big guys" just to sign a big guy, when there's a much better player who is smaller (any help on Bruce's recruiting philosophy would be much apprecaited... @Jeffrey Lee et al.)
As-it-stands Auburn is much like a mid-major IMO (albeit a very, very good mid-major,) but based on Bruce's comments I expect that to change as soon as he can possibly get it to.
HOFSTRA now: 18-11 (11-6) 3rd in the CAA, 3 games back of 1st.
Fri, Nov 24 vs Winthrop W 119-85
WINTHROP now: 18-10 (12-5) 2nd place in the Big South, 1 game back of UNC Asheville for 1st (lost to UNCA 89-75 this past Thurs the 22nd.)
Sat, Dec 16 vs Middle Tennessee* (neutral site in B'ham) W 76-70
MT now: 22-5 (14-1) 1st place in C-USA by 1 game (Old Dominion and Western Kentucky tied for 2nd place at 1 game back.) MT has beaten OD the only time they play them this year, and have beaten WKU once with 1 more game against them on 3-1-18.
Tue, Dec 19 @Murray State W 81-77
MURRAY STATE now: 23-5 (15-2) 1st place in the OVC by 1 game over 2nd place Belmont (Murray lost the only matchup with Belmont this season...both teams have 1 regular season game left.)
Those listed above are the best OOC wins, the rest of the teams are performing at a so-so or poor rate:
Nov. 10 Norfolk State 11-17 (9-4, 5th in MEAC)
Nov. 16 Indiana State 12-17 (7-10, 6th in MVC)
Nov. 17 Temple 15-12 (7-8, 7th in the American) LOSS
Nov. 29 Dayton 13-15 (7-9, 9th in A-10)
Dec. 03 George Mason 13-15 (7-8, 6th in A-10)
Dec. 06 Gardner-Webb 13-17 (8-9, 6th in Big South)
Dec. 09 UAB 17-11 (8-7, 6th in C-USA)
Dec. 23 13-15 (6-9, 8th in American)
Dec. 30 10-14 (4-7, 5th in Ivy League)
Quick Comment:
Earlier this year it seemed to me that Bruce was/is running Auburn like a mid-major. The schedule plus the personnel (smaller, etc.) lead me to think this. However, I just saw an interview from about a week ago where Bruce bemoans the inability to get "household names" to come to Auburn. I had not adequately considered this aspect of his scheduling. However, perhaps (especially with the new emphasis on away and neutral site games) he can have some success getting teams to agree to a one-off game in B'ham or other neutral site.
As for the personnel component, I'm guessing that Bruce is trying to take the best available player, while also considering needs; in other words I'm assuming that he isn't going to sign "big guys" just to sign a big guy, when there's a much better player who is smaller (any help on Bruce's recruiting philosophy would be much apprecaited... @Jeffrey Lee et al.)
As-it-stands Auburn is much like a mid-major IMO (albeit a very, very good mid-major,) but based on Bruce's comments I expect that to change as soon as he can possibly get it to.
